Multiservice wire connector



May 4, 1954 w, w 2,677,717

MULTISERVICE WIRE CONNECTOR Filed Jan. 12, 1951 IN VENT OR W Z i amBJVi'nn BY 9 W ATTORNEYS Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES OFFICE '2;$7'7,71 '7 MULTISERVICE WIRE CONNECTOR Welton B. Winn, Floydada, mean, 'assignor of onehalf to RFL. House, San Antonio, Tex.

Application January 12, 1951, Serial No. 205,640

' (o1. PM -44) 1 Elaine. 1

This invention relates to a connector for electric service taps and more particularly an up proved electrical service distribution line connector having a common terminal plate providing for the radial connection of service wires from a given point on a distribution pole.

' In the construction and servicing of an over head electric power and light distribution system it is common practice to extend secondary feeder incs along a street or highway adjacent the properties to be served with such secondaries supported on poles spaced apart by a number or properties. In this manner each pole is utilized to support a plurality of service loops consisting of two or more wires connected between the pole and the dwellings or other buildings of cus tomers desiring electric service as the demand for service develops. Ihe usual practice is to conheat the service wires of each loop as they accumulate to a common bracket mounted on a particular service pole and it is obvious that such a bracket can very soon become overloaded with wires tapped to the secondary. The result is .that the available space on each pole soon becomes occupied by an excessive number of wires on the poie by greatly limiting the climbing space I left adjacent the feeder lines.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide means for reducing the amount of wiring required to be placed on a distribution pole used to serve a number of customers.

Another object is to provide a means of reducing the number of wires necessary in a given space so as to eliminate overcrowding of the climbing space available adjacent secondary lines of an overhead distribution system.

Still another object is to provide a service connector having a common conducting plate electrically connected in a distribution system.

A further object is to provide a service connector capable of installation in conjunction with existing distribution facilities.

A still further object is to provide a connector that does away with a plurality of connections on the main secondary wire of a distribution system.

Another object is to provide a construction that is rugged, economical of manufacture and installation.

Other objects than those stated will appear upon an understanding of the invention attained from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which 2 like numerals refer to like parts in the different views.

In the drawing Figure" 1 is a plan view of the device of this invention in partial section and shown in its pre= ferr ed embodiment as attached to a distribution line pole.

Figure 2 is an elevational view.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Referring now in detail to the various views shown by the drawing numeral H] generally des igna'tes the device of this invention. The device l0 provides a spring clamp I l adapted for insertion around an insulator spool 12 of a conventional type of secondary rack it having a U- shaped bracket l6 adapted for bolted attachment to a pole H by bolt means it or the like as best illustrated in Figure 2. The spool !2 is of coirventional construction and formed from insulating material to provide a central bore or aperture 51 extending through the center thereof and; a conductor receiving groOVe l'l running around the spool. Spool I2 is preferably secured place between the spaced arms N3 of the U-shaped bracket it by a removable pin l9 inserted through bore 51. The removable pin it is preferably headed at the top end 26 and transversely drilled at the bottom as at 2i to receive a cotter pin 22 inserted therein below a washer 23 inserted on the pin.

When positioned on the pole for operation the secondary rack It provides a support means for a secondary feeder wire or conductor 24 strung" adjacent to the pole and tied to the insulator l2 by a suitable tie Wire 25 wrappingly engaged therewith. The construction of this invention is well suited for use with a straight run of secondary feeder mounted as shown or with a feeder bisected as for corner construction as the situa-' tion warrants.

The spring clamp l I is formed with a loop porthan 26 adapted to partially encircle the spool l2 within the groove 17. The loop portion it is ter- Yninated at spaced points 2'! with the clamp being extended therefrom as straight handles or side arms 28 and 29. The handles 28 and 25 are adapted to extend substantially at right angles to the spool l2 and in spaced relationship as to each other. The loop 28 is formed to a diameter slightly less than the minimum diameter of the grooved portion I! so as to efiect a clamping action on engagement with the spool as the arms 28 and 29 are squeezed toward each other for normal positioning as shown. This construction 3 provides for clamped on engagement of the loop portion 29 under tension of the arms 28 and 29 bent at points 21 with the clamp in operating position.

Each of the arms 28 and 29 is formed with extended ends 30 bent downwardly as at 3| to form a vertical portion 32 disposed rearwardly of a forwardly bent portion as at 33 to provide a horizontal ledge portion 34 disposed substantially parallel with the arms and spaced downwardly therefrom by the vertical portion.

Supported by clamp H is a terminal plate 35 formed of suitable material for the conduction of electrical current from the secondary feeder 24 to a lurality of service loops represented by wire 36. The plate 35 is preferably formed with a narrowed tail portion 3'! and a forwardly disposed front portion 38 having a semi-circular outer edge 39. Radially spaced at the front portion 38 and equidistant from edge 39 are a. plurality of bolt holes 49. Spaced back from holes 40 and centered relative to the tail 3! are a pair of spaced apart clamp receiving holes 4| drilled transversely of the plate 35. The holes 4| are sufiiciently close together to place the clamp arms thickness as to substantially extend from bend 3| to bend 33 of the arm ends 30 so as to provide a snug fit for the arm ends positioned in holes 4| as best illustrated in Figure 3. When so positioned the arms 23 and 29 are levered over the tail portion as at 42 to engage extensions 34 under the plate 35 forwardly of holes 4|. The weight of the plate 35 plus the service loops connected thereto as hereinafter explained is sufficient to draw the plate into tight engagement with the arm ends 30 where it is held in a substantially horizontal position by the clamp.

Plate 35 is also apertured as at 43 to receive a feeder connector bolt 44 which provides a terminal for one end of a feeder tap 45 consisting of a wire of suiiicient capacity to carry the required manner of connection eliminates the necessity of tapping the feeder wire 24 at more than one point whereas in conventional construction a large number of taps would be required to provide a plurality of service loops.

Connected to the plate 35 is a service wire grip type of connector 49 in which the service wire 38 is inserted. The plurality of holes 40 disposed inwardly from the edge 39 provide for a number of service connections and while I show a service plate 35 constructed to receive five separate service wires it will be understood that different sized plates can be provided for connection of either a greater or smaller number of wires. However, for purpose of simplicity only one connector is shown and described as being connected to plate 35 as illustrated.

The connector 48 is conventionally formed as a metallic sleeve provided with wire gripping means that form no part of this invention. The usual practice is to skin the insulation 56 from the end of the wire 36 for insertion in the grip 48 where it is held against pull out force exerted thereon. The grip 48 is provided with an enlarged or ferruled end 93 held by a yoke 5| having parallel apertured arms 49 adapted for alignment with holes 4c of the plate 35 and are secured thereto by suitable bolt means 59 having a nut 54 for tight engagement to provide good electrical contact with the plate 35. It, of course, is obvious that although for purposes of simplicity I have described and illustrated only one device ID that a plurality of devices will ordinarily be used in vertical alignment connecting with separate secondary conductors, three of which are conventionally provided for domestic service to which either two or three wire service loops are connected. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that after a device It] is once installed the connection of additional service loops thereto merely requires the bolting on of more grip connectors in holes 49 and in case a larger plate 35 is required it is a relatively easy matter to substitute such larger plate as no additional connections to the secondary will be required.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail it is understood that minor changes in the construction, material used, and arrangement of cooperating parts may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim A multi-scrvice wire connector for use with an electric distribution rack comprising a spring clamp springingly engageable around an insulator spool carried by an electric distribution rack, said clamp having a pair of extended arms formed as straight portions terminating in offset ledgelike extensions disposed at the ends thereof, said offsets being extended below the plane of the straight portion and interconnected therewith by parallel vertical portions disposed substantially at right angles to said straight portions, a metal connector plate vertically apertured to receive said vertical portions with said ledge portions engaging under the plate forwardly of said apertures and supporting said plate in readily disconnectable relation, said plate having a forwardly disposed arcuate portion with said arcuate portion being formed with a plurality of radially spaced apertures, a yoke comprising separable legs provided with aligned bolt holes forming wire connecting means adapted for bolted engagement with said plate through one of said apertures, and a wire connector by passing said insulator spool electrically connecting said plate to a conductor carried by the rack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,213,211 Klauber et a1 Jan. 23, 1917 1,732,162 Griner Oct. 15, 1929 1,759,591 Pleister et al -1 May 20, 1930 1,797,599 Allenbaugh Mar. 24, 1931 1,948,845 De Right Feb. 27, 1934 2,149,070 Poinan Feb. 28, 1939 2,247,497 Howell et a1 July 1, 1941 2,309,971 McLarn Feb. 2, 1943 2,499,799 Whitman et al Mar. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 210,405 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1940 

